From hopelessness to hopefulness: the story of Margaret Lisok who found a voice through economic empowerment activity in Terekeka
Case/context:
Women and girls have always been marginalized and relegated to the status of subjugated class in the Mundari community of Terekeka County. Especially in rural areas, women have not actively participated in their emancipation due to their lack of economic independence and illiteracy. Discriminatory cultural practices through patriarchy continue to make the majority of women and girls suffer from harmful practices. Gender-based violence (GBV) against girls and women is a prevalent issue across the area; one fifth of women and girls in the community are affected by GBV, forced sexual intercourse and girl child marriage are also forms of violence.
Gender Based violence in Terekeka became evident by horrific forms of violence particularly against girls and women during the tribal conflict that erupted among Mundari pastoralists between 2019 and 2021 which killed more than 300 people and thousands displaced mostly women and children.
Economic and social marginalization of women and girls has proved to reinforce patterns of gender inequality that tend to make girls and women more vulnerable to GBV, because they have no financial power and resources to free themselves from their abusive marriage, to confront cultural practices and leaders and to enroll in education or start a business. Salaam Junub with support from UNDP and Sweden managed to support a group of young women and men in Terekeka who are disadvantaged to engage in income generating activities. Margret Lisok was among the recipients of the start-kits in Terekeka center.
Before the intervention:
Margaret Lisok economic situation was bad making it harder to pay her children in schools and afford the high cost of medication, clothing and food for the family. She then started to fry fish by the road side but the business staggered because she was not able to buy chairs, tables and even erect a shelter for her customers. She could only manage to collect 5,000 SSP a day (7 $).
Nature of intervention:
Salaam Junub with funding from UNDP and her partner Sweden provided support to a group of young men and women in Terekeka County to embark on viable businesses of their choices. Individuals within the group received different types of start-up kits to execute their business plans individually and save as a group. The group members also come together to share experiences, progress, challenges and discuss way forward. Margaret Lisok was recommended by Terekeka women association to benefit from the business support that Salaam Junub provides with support from her partners. After a thorough market survey, Margaret requested for chairs, tables and fish for reviving her business which was approved by the group members. She received tables, chairs and fish for start-up.
After the intervention:
Margaret’s started selling fried fish in Terekeka Central Market which she described as a miracle because from her previous earning of 5,000 SSP Margaret can now fetch over 20,000 SSP in a day. She used the profit to erect a shelter for her customers and expand her business to increase her income. Margaret is able to smile at last because she is now having savings that can help her children to school, buy food for the family and cater for medical bills. She also said that with her financial strength, she is able to gain more respect from men and other community members “…the support I received from UNDP and its partner Sweden through Salaam Junub has empowered me economically and now I have a voice to contribute to decision making processes at the local level.” Marget says.